FLIPPABLE: Lisa Mathis for NC-HD51
My grandparents settled in a western Pennsylvania community of farmers and coal miners, working hard to makeends meet. Growing up, dad watched his father cobble together a living through coal mining, raising animals, growing vegetables, and working as a handyman. With little opportunity in this rural community, my dad chose to join the military and became the first in his family to go to college.
During my dad's career, our family was stationed all over the United States and the world. Moving every few years was tough, but mom was our rock; she created a home that was grounded in the bonds of family and friends. Being a military kid was challenging, but it gave me courage, adaptability, and a deep respect for the sacrifices of our service members and their families.
As we moved, I attended public schools. My parents instilled in me the value of education, both within the classroom and outside of it. When I was 16, armed with their encouragement and with their hard work ethic ingrained in me, I took my first real job - working the early morning shift at our local McDonald’s, and later, as a short order cook at a small-town restaurant. During college, I continued working various jobs including a daycare center, galleries, internships and the Smithsonian Institution. These opportunities taught me skills I couldn’t learn in a classroom – how to treat customers, build relationships, do quality work and run a good business.
I married my college sweetheart Brian, and we chose to make Sanford, North Carolina the place where we would put down roots because of its small-town charm and the opportunity for us to make a positive impact. I worked as a designer for a few years after college and at 25, I took a leap of faith and started my first business – a graphic design company. Starting a business takes courage, commitment, and the conviction that we can build our own future.
After 21 years, Sanford has truly become our home. It’s a community where we raised our two children, and where I started yet another small business. In 2003, I opened ArtStudio in downtown Sanford as a place for children and adults to explore their creativity. When I drive around Lee and Harnett counties, I see each small business as a place where someone once took that same leap of faith and had the courage to step out on their own.
Many of our kids and families in Lee and Harnett Counties aren’t getting a fair shot. Families in our district are having to make tough decisions of whether to sacrifice even more to make ends meet or leave our district, altogether. It's apparent that too many of our residents are not being heard by those who could legislate in ways to improve the lives of our hard-working neighbors. I am running for North Carolina House District 51 because I cannot ignore the needs of my neighbors while seeing that politicians in Raleigh continue to look out for the best interests of the privileged, while leaving our children and working families behind. I want every child and every family in Lee and Harnett Counties to have better and accessible opportunities to thrive. The challenges that have afflicted our area can be solved by leaders who have the will and commitment to care for our neighbors as deeply as we care for our own families, and that starts by showing up and listening.
https://www.mathis4nchouse.com/?utm_campaign=candidate-page&utm_content=candidate-page-link&utm_medium=web&utm_source=flippable
= new reply since forum marked as read
